Putting this here in the comments to remind us all once again:
“The antidote to the attention economy is not to find ways to periodically disengage from the realities of the world, it’s to engage more with the things that make us feel alive and whole.”
I loved this article. So timely; so true. Thank you for reminding us all how to live our lives most fully and authentically
Aww thanks Jen, so glad it resonated for you. Living fully and authentically will be a forever practice for me, but finding the people and things I feel most alive engaging with has certainly helps 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Eliza! Wow. I don’t have the words… but especially regarding connecting to people, there absolutely just isn’t any substitute for that. We need our community and you’re doing a fine job on a virtual plane!
Ty for always curating such a precise informative article.
I could highlight this entire article..you are nailing something i have been feeling but have not even thought but articulating in this way. THANK YOU! "I don’t want to have to pay a monthly membership fee to a sensory deprivation tank." That killed me lol. But seriously tho!...“people were happiest when they were just talking to one another, when they gardened, knitted, or were involved in a hobby"....<3
I just got done reading Self Reliance by Emerson. That essay and now yours are incredibly prescient after having spent the weekend binging Netflix. It’s as if we (I) willingly sacrifice our minds and shut them off despite them being our biggest gifts. It’s a scary trap and I am grateful you have highlighted it
Beautifully said. And I love that you’re referencing so many of the books that have been inspiring me in recent years as well. In fact, I just love that I feel surrounded by people on substack who are feeling, seeing and acting on similar hunches about late-stage capitalism that I am. Makes me feel less crazy and more hopeful that we can turn this ship around. So grateful to have connected with you here.
Wonderful post. Have you read Stolen Focus by Johann Hari? That book blew my whole mind ☺️ I’ll have to check out his other work, lost connections sounds great!
It is absolutely wild to take the 2+ hours (or more) per day from mindlessly scrolling and then figure out what to do… it’s like, a shock at first. But then it becomes magical and beautiful, like I’m no longer trying to catch up because I wasted 8% of my day away to Zuckerberg.
Holy smokes!! I could not agree with this piece more. For months now I’ve been writing about things I need and want — mostly to be seen. My list has never once included any products…
There’s something special about fully embracing your passion, and letting the universe re-arrange itself to support that. It requires a tremendous leap of faith, partly because society is so effectively designed to instill scarcity and fear in you.
Excellent post, thank you for articulating such a big unwieldy truth so clearly!
Hi Eliza, Thank you for taking the time to articulate this so well. I live in the UK and it is the same here. There is so much to digest in this article and your words have knitted together so many persistent threads in my mind. Maternity leave gave me a valid reason to step off the treadmill but it took a huge physical and emotional labour (child birth & rearing) for me to be allowed to do that. I should have tried harder to unplug from The Matrix but now my kids are already sucked in. Too many toys, too much TV, not enough community or singing or connecting with others in meaningful ways. And despite getting off the treadmill, the tiredness and isolation of maternity leave (and Covid) means I’ve become even more of a consumer and even more addicted to my phone. Aghhhhhhhhhhhh! Where to start? It feels overwhelming, impossible even. Depressing.
Hi Katie, thank you for sharing your story. I’m sure sooo many people can resonate, and I’m willing to bet I’ll be feeling the same way if I’m lucky enough to become a mom one day. Just a reminder that you are enough, you are doing enough, and to be gentle on yourself. Exhaustion is a non-starter…prioritize rest and presence for yourself and your family. We are all rooting for you 🙏🏼
Putting this here in the comments to remind us all once again:
“The antidote to the attention economy is not to find ways to periodically disengage from the realities of the world, it’s to engage more with the things that make us feel alive and whole.”
I loved this article. So timely; so true. Thank you for reminding us all how to live our lives most fully and authentically
Aww thanks Jen, so glad it resonated for you. Living fully and authentically will be a forever practice for me, but finding the people and things I feel most alive engaging with has certainly helps 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Eliza! Wow. I don’t have the words… but especially regarding connecting to people, there absolutely just isn’t any substitute for that. We need our community and you’re doing a fine job on a virtual plane!
Ty for always curating such a precise informative article.
Thanks for being here, Isaiah
I could highlight this entire article..you are nailing something i have been feeling but have not even thought but articulating in this way. THANK YOU! "I don’t want to have to pay a monthly membership fee to a sensory deprivation tank." That killed me lol. But seriously tho!...“people were happiest when they were just talking to one another, when they gardened, knitted, or were involved in a hobby"....<3
I just got done reading Self Reliance by Emerson. That essay and now yours are incredibly prescient after having spent the weekend binging Netflix. It’s as if we (I) willingly sacrifice our minds and shut them off despite them being our biggest gifts. It’s a scary trap and I am grateful you have highlighted it
So glad this resonated. Try not to be too hard on yourself for the netflix binge, only growing awareness and curiosity :)
Beautifully said. And I love that you’re referencing so many of the books that have been inspiring me in recent years as well. In fact, I just love that I feel surrounded by people on substack who are feeling, seeing and acting on similar hunches about late-stage capitalism that I am. Makes me feel less crazy and more hopeful that we can turn this ship around. So grateful to have connected with you here.
I feel sooo similarly Justine. So grateful we are connected now, on substack and in life :)
Wonderful post. Have you read Stolen Focus by Johann Hari? That book blew my whole mind ☺️ I’ll have to check out his other work, lost connections sounds great!
Oh I haven't but I will put it on my list! I loved Lost Connections and I think you will too!
Thank you for this essay. I am on the journey of reclaiming my attention.
Welcome to the club Lindsay😊
It is absolutely wild to take the 2+ hours (or more) per day from mindlessly scrolling and then figure out what to do… it’s like, a shock at first. But then it becomes magical and beautiful, like I’m no longer trying to catch up because I wasted 8% of my day away to Zuckerberg.
Totally!
Holy smokes!! I could not agree with this piece more. For months now I’ve been writing about things I need and want — mostly to be seen. My list has never once included any products…
So glad this resonates Caroline, glad I’m not alone :)
Super thoughtful! I recently started writing again and am taking up knitting for a lot of the reasons you just mentioned!
Awesome! Good luck with the knitting!
There’s something special about fully embracing your passion, and letting the universe re-arrange itself to support that. It requires a tremendous leap of faith, partly because society is so effectively designed to instill scarcity and fear in you.
Excellent post, thank you for articulating such a big unwieldy truth so clearly!
Yea exactly Jeremy. Thank you!
Hi Eliza, Thank you for taking the time to articulate this so well. I live in the UK and it is the same here. There is so much to digest in this article and your words have knitted together so many persistent threads in my mind. Maternity leave gave me a valid reason to step off the treadmill but it took a huge physical and emotional labour (child birth & rearing) for me to be allowed to do that. I should have tried harder to unplug from The Matrix but now my kids are already sucked in. Too many toys, too much TV, not enough community or singing or connecting with others in meaningful ways. And despite getting off the treadmill, the tiredness and isolation of maternity leave (and Covid) means I’ve become even more of a consumer and even more addicted to my phone. Aghhhhhhhhhhhh! Where to start? It feels overwhelming, impossible even. Depressing.
Hi Katie, thank you for sharing your story. I’m sure sooo many people can resonate, and I’m willing to bet I’ll be feeling the same way if I’m lucky enough to become a mom one day. Just a reminder that you are enough, you are doing enough, and to be gentle on yourself. Exhaustion is a non-starter…prioritize rest and presence for yourself and your family. We are all rooting for you 🙏🏼
The word self does not imply selfishness rather it pivots the need for self-love, self-power, self reliance and self satisfaction.